Green Lantern Corps
(Stronger united than separate)
by Phil Perich for the Legends of DC Blog
Fans have been arguing for decades which Green Lantern is the best. The argument has come to a head recently with rumors of a Green Lantern movie coming in the next few years. Who should be the star and headline the movie. I say we should have them all and everyone in fandom wins. I’m going to examine the official human members of the Green Lantern Corps (Alan Scott is not a member), and convince you why these warriors are stronger together than apart.
- Hal Jordan (Heart)
The first human Green Lantern of the silver age of comics, Hal rubs many fans the wrong way. Some see him as too arrogant, to much of a risk taker. But remember, Hal is a test pilot at heart, not the safest of careers. If Hal has one weakness, it’s that he feels too much. Hal loves, fights, and goes at life with everything he has. That is why I say Hal is the heart of the team.
Hal Jordan
2. Guy Gardner (Courage)
Guy was originally another candidate when Abin Sur was looking for his replacement. But since Hal Jordan was closer, he received the ring and the position as Green Lantern of space sector 2814. Guy would go on to be the “backup” when Hal was unable to perform his duties. Guy was put in a coma when he was caught in the blast of an exploding Green Lantern battery. When he awoke, Guy was a much more aggressive hero. Many think of him as a jerk, but Guy is the every man who finds himself allied with heroes of many worlds against a dangerous universe. He’s not afraid to speak his mind and never backs down from a fight. This is why I say Guy is the courage of the Corps.
Guy Gardner
3. John Stewart (Brain)
John took over the backup role when Guy went into his coma, and even became Earth’s primary Green Lantern when Hal quit for a time. Many people think of John as only a soldier, but they forget he was an architect for most of his history. When John creates energy constructs, you can see the moving pieces, the smallest details in everything he creates. This is why I say John is the brain of Earth’s Lanterns.
John Stewart
4. Kyle Rayner (Imagination)
After the evil entity Parallax infects Hal Jordan and convinces him to destroy the Green Lantern Corps, Kyle Rayner becomes the last Green Lantern for awhile. Kyle carries the torch until the Corps is restored when Hal Jordan is resurrected. Kyle’s greatest weapon is his brain, since as an artist, he can quickly and easily imagine multitudes of things to create with his power ring and use it in new and unique ways. This is why I declare Kyle is the imagination.
Kyle Rayner
5. Simon Baz (New Guy)
A creation of the New 52 era, we haven't got a lot on Simon’s backstory. He was caught by the Police racing a stolen car with a bomb in the back which he knew nothing about. The authorities jump to the false conclusion that the Lebanese American Muslim is a terrorist. Shuffled from team to team and crossover to crossover after his origin story, Simon never became a fully fleshed out character. I think his inclusion in the Green Lantern movie could correct this and give us special insight into the space cops through the eyes of the “new guy”.
Simon Baz
So am I dead on or completely off base? Let me know any of the following ways:
nightwingpdp@gmail.com or worldsfinestpod@gmail.com
@Nightwingpdp or @worldsfinestpod on Twitter
You can hear me and my cohost Lilith Hellfire (@LilithHellfire) review the DC Comics of the week and talk everything DC on our podcast World’s Finest. I also write True Believers, a Marvel blog. You can find all my podcasts, blogs, and those of others at www.southgatemediagroup.com
I write a weekly article for TVbinges (@tvbinges) named Super 5 about the comic book TV shows of the week. You can find it at www.tvbinges.com
All of my creative endeavors can be found at www.philperich.wordpress.com
That’s it for this time. Until we meet again, remember, In brightest day, in darkest night, don’t let evil escape your sight!